Experts to offer Gloucestershire businesses an insight into the Chinese and Hong Kong markets

Local businesses looking to penetrate one of the key emerging global markets will be able to gain valuable business insights at a free seminar taking place on 21 May 2015 run by Gloucestershire-based business with expertise in China.

China Growth – Build and develop your business in China and Hong Kong takes place on 21st May at New Mills, Renishaw HQ and features talks from experts including Richard Graham, MP for Gloucester, and Russell Brown, chair for the British Chamber of Commerce in China. Graham, who lived in China for 15 years, is fluent in both Mandarin and Cantonese, and now serves as the Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary China Group.

Delegates at the half-day seminar will discover how to market their business in China and Hong Kong and gain insights into key areas such as exports and taxation. There will also be a session on how local businesses can get support closer to home from David Owen, CEO of GFirst.

The Prime Minister has said that UK exports to China have more than doubled since 2009, and that "at £1 billion a month, they are growing faster than France or Germany", so it is essential that local firms don't miss out1. Join in China, the Gloucestershire business behind the seminar, was established to help small and medium-sized UK businesses operate effectively in this crucial market. Stroud-based founding partner Qing Lin was born in China, educated at Shantou University (southeast China) and lived in Japan, South Korea and Thailand before settling in the UK 15 years ago. Having worked for companies in both the UK and China, she is well placed to advise on Chinese business culture and markets, corporate identity and marketing strategies. “Trading between the UK and China has being happening for hundreds of years," says Lin. "This is not something new but something very exciting indeed. With local support right on the doorstep, Gloucestershire businesses should take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about doing business in this emerging economy.”

This event is supported by GFirstLEP, Invest Hong Kong and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), UKTI, Renishaw and HSBC, with media partner Cotswold Life magazine.

To register for a free place delegates should email details to:

seminars@joininchina.co.uk or visit www.joininchina.co.uk

1 UK Parliament report 2013-2014:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmfaff/605/60508.htm